Cam Ward did more than make 39 saves against the Chicago Blackhawks. As much as anyone in a Carolina sweater Wednesday night, he earned a point for the Hurricanes.
The Blackhawks did win the game, 3-2 in a shootout. But the Canes, with Ward making a host of high-quality saves, picked up a point that lifted them past the Florida Panthers and into seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
"This is a vital road trip when you look at the calendar," Ward said after the game at the United Center in Chicago. "We knew it was going to be tough coming into (Chicago) and it will be another tough one in Dallas (tonight), finishing up with Washington on Saturday.
"This could make or break. Every game is so huge for our team right now. It's important that we bear down and play with consistency, night-in and night-out."
Ward made a couple of sparkling saves on the Blackhawks' Patrick Kane, including one with 43 seconds left in overtime. But his sliding save, left to right, with 5:57 left in the third was one of his best of the season. The Blackhawks led 2-1 and were on a power play, and Brian Campbell had an open backdoor shot.
"He made a huge, huge save that gave us a chance to get a point," Canes coach Paul Maurice said. "The pad save coming across the crease was fantastic."
The Blackhawks' Cristobal Huet made a few good ones, too, stopping the Canes' Eric Staal on a breakaway with three seconds left in overtime.
Maurice, while pleased to come away with a point, said the Canes played an "ugly" game.
"I think they had more energy," Maurice said of the Blackhawks. "Nothing was good or smooth for us. But for the energy we had to spend, we spent it."
Spent much of it killing penalties, that is. The Blackhawks had seven power plays.
"We spent too much time in the box," Maurice said.
But the Canes did have enough energy left to tie the score in the final seconds of regulation. After a hooking penalty on the Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews at 18:57, Ward was pulled during the power play and Tuomo Ruutu's goal on a pass from Ray Whitney made it 2-2 with 26.5 seconds left.
"We battled to the end to get that very important point," Ward said. "It probably was not one of our best games but you've got to take the positives, and we got a point."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
The Coach hit
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 13:38 — esteban1949it square on the head...too much time in the box...why ? grant you all the time in the box didn't give Chicago anymore pucks in the net then they got, but still, that has been one of the weak spots this season for the Canes. I was happy with the choices for the shoot out. I felt bad for Samsonov as the all but lost the puck as it rolled as he shot. And i agree Chicago's current line up is "scary good"...
Go Canes !!
PP Goal
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 15:35 — Canes73Chicago did score the powerplay goal that put them ahead in the third. Its too bad Ruutu's high stick was called a double minor. Had it been just a minor, he would have been back on the ice in time to maybe help prevent the goal.
Should be a big night in the standings. Just about all the teams in the race are playing.
weak spot?
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 14:44 — mdavidhallWhile I would agree that in certain games penalties have hurt us, overall that Canes are one of the least penalized teams in the league.
In fact, the Canes rank at the top pf the league as far as penalty minutes per game with an average of 10.2. Only Phoenix has committed fewer minor penalites that the Canes (270 for the Canes to 269 for the Coyotes) and they have played 2 fewer games.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/teamstats.htm?fetchKey=20092ALLAAAAll&sort=avgPenaltyMinutesPerGame&viewName=penalties
The Canes are also 3rd in the league in power play opportunities, hinting that the draw more penalties as well. Unfortunately while only the Kings and the Stars have had more power play opportunites that the Canes, the Canes still sit on the edge lower third of the league in power play conversion. Dallas by the way is even wrose than the Canes on the pwoer play based on percentages.
Numbers.
-m
Chicago
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 10:21 — hockeyhickMan, that team is gonna be scary good! What a great young core of talent they have!
Anyway-a point on the road against a good team-I'll take it. Nice to see the Canes play to the final whistle and not give up. I don't know what it was in particular, but our passing didn't look good at all and we obviously spent too much time in the penalty box. But I'll take the point.
Big game tonight (no duh!). Go Canes!!
yuppers
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 14:21 — HockeydogI agree, that Blackhawks team will be a force in the next year or two. A Cup will be theirs within 2 years, barring any horrible rash of injuries. They skate like the wind, have some size, and a bunch of skill. It was a good deal to leave with a point.
And to comment on other posts, Ward has to go tonight. He really has to go the rest of the way unless the Canes can open up some breathing roomin the top 8. Ward has to go all the way!!
What about tonight?
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 09:58 — FuquayCaniacWho is going to start in net tonight? One would think this may be a game for Leighton, with Washington on Saturday. Unless you: 1) Play Ward again, to increase the chances of getting the 2 pts tonight. Perhaps an easier win than against WAS? or 2) Ride Ward tonight and Sat, because they then have 3 days off.
I 'd Go with #2
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 20:09 — AN0NYM0USCam had a strong game last night, but seemed to fade a bit during the shootout. I think we only have one more back-to-back this season. My vote, if I had one, would be to rest Ward for Saturday and go with Leighton. Maybe he'll play like he did against the Sharks. I'd say, rest Cam for the stretch run and hope we can grab a point or two tonight in Big D.
RE: What about tonight?
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 11:10 — bigblue01You have to play Ward tonight. Look at his numbers on the second half of back-to-back games. He's 6-1 (i think) on the second game of back-to-backs. The Canes will need those numbers since they haven't won in Dallas since 1996 when they were in Hartford.
I agree...
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 12:05 — hockeyhickWard needs to play tonight. He was awesome last night. Ride the wave, I say. If the team D can get back to the form of the 4 wins in tonight's game I would feel confident in playing Leighton against Washington. That would give Cam a good 5 days rest. Could go either way.
Go Canes!!!
Lineup for shootout?????
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 09:15 — terrymurphyGreat game for Ward and finally getting a last second push to tie. But why was Staal, Whitney or Cole left on the bench for the shootout?
Staal typically doesn't
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 10:07 — jgrant641Staal typically doesn't score on the shootout.
Cole typically scores when he grinds the defense down the wing and works to score, not as helpful on the shootout either.
Here are our stats...
Jussi Jokinen
Shots
11
Goals
5
%
45.4
Brind'Amour
Samsonov
I am assuming Jokinens include Tampa, as I can only recall 2 games with the canes that he has been in a shooout (2/2 as I recall).
Shootout Lineup
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 09:39 — GoShelfThey were leftout because they don't score as often as the guys that were in the shootout. We went 2/3 our first three shots, not much to complain about here. Hindsight's 20/20, but I might have liked Whitney in the 4 slot. Chicago's top five shooters are as good if not better than anyone in the NHL - Toews and Kane are nasty in shootouts. Happy with a point, tonight is huge.
Agreed, Ruutu, Jokinen, and
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 09:54 — FuquayCaniacAgreed, Ruutu, Jokinen, and Cullen are just better in the shootout. Ruutu has that nasty wrist shot, and Jokinen and Cullen were brought here as they have a knack for the shootout.
(I know we also brought Cullen back to QB the PP, etc.)